If you’re like me, your years on this Earth have brought you many opportunities and challenges. Opportunities can help us grow. Challenges can bring growth or failure in the end. In this COVID-19 para existence, opportunities and challenges abound. So instead of complaining about what’s next or challenging in the voice-over industry, why not expand and look for ways to make voiceover lead you to new paths of opportunities.

Elephant in the Room

I recently went to a voice-over event and had my feelings hurt.  The person was not trying to injure me, but her constructive criticism felt like she had hit me with a two-by-four over my head.  The criticism was related to some recent work and a demo of which I was so proud.  Her point was I needed to make changes to improve my marketability.  Well, all I heard were dollar signs!

After a few weeks, it occurred to me that I should thank my critic, embrace her comments, and make the changes necessary to maintain my marketability.  Her words were somewhat of a shock because I had been walking around my elephant.  Once I faced it, I embraced my truth and planned a better future as a voice-over professional.

Those with a grateful mindset tend to see the message in the mess. And even though life may knock them down, the grateful find reasons, if even small ones, to get up.”

Steve Maraboli

Turn Challenge into Opportunity

Do you need to update your voiceover demos?  Is your sound dating you?  Are you making more excuses than cold calls these days?  This list can go on, but my point is it’s time to face your truths or the elephant in the room. Turn these challenges into new opportunities for improving your voiceover success.

Check your Bio

We, as voice actors, tend to only focus on voiceovers even while at rest.  But most of us have talents and skills that reach across many areas of business.  We should never forget what we can do and can bring to a table.  Our skills may have become a little rusty, which means it may be time for a refresher.  Dormant skills or talents (once updated) may make excellent complements to a voice-over business.  Writing, editing, marketing, drawing, painting, accounting, and other skill areas can be excellent additional income sources.

We, as voice talent, should always leave room for another source or stream of income.  Review what else you do well and make sure it brings in the “bacon” too.

Make It Work

We all have seasons of plenty and want.  The trick is to make the seasons work for you.  With the elephant under control and a fresh appreciation for your non voice over-related skills, make sure you manage your livelihood.  That may mean redoing your work or play schedule.  Make changes often in your recording and living space to help keep your thinking fresh.  Determine what goes and what stays.  Lastly, make your changes now, don’t put it off.

We get one shot at the Life wheel, so it’s okay to slow it down sometimes but don’t let it stop.  Be it an opportunity or challenge, make it work, and let your love of being a voice over professional never take the back seat.

You can and are the best at what you do. So voice on and break that lip!